Basic encapsulation question

[Snapolit1]

I guess what got me to ask the question was seeing some Exhibits that are graded 4s that have wicked staining on the front that I can't believe would get anything close to that today. Was curious as to whether the staining was somehow a mold type thing that was slowly spreading.

[glchen]

I had a card in the past, which looked like it had some kind of mold/mildew on it, and I've attached it here. I could see that mold or moisture being trapped within the holder could cause additional deterioration in the card since the water/moisture isn't able to evaporate as it would if the card were not holdered. For example, I remember reading in one of the soaking threads that you should not soak "X" type card because there were some instance where the card practically exploded after it was broken out of the holder.

For general staining issues, I think a lot of that is the card being misgraded or different "eras" or "graders of death (or the opposite) where some cards seem as if they definitely don't deserve the grade they got. I think that's the more likely answer to that instead of the stain got worse over time.

In general, I get all of the cards in my personal collection graded and holdered because I think encapsulation protects the card in most cases. For example, if you accidentally dropped the card or it fell out of a bookshelf and other books fell on top of it. In my case, I have three young children, so if they ever got a hand on some of my cards, there is definitely more peace of mind if they are holding one of my cards that is in a holder rather than just the raw card.

[ngnichols]

A BGS/BVG card has an internal sleeve that the card is put into before it even goes into it's outer holder. This removes any air/moisture exposure that would cause any additional deterioration of a card so long as it goes in dry and without mold already on it.

Their outer holder also has a UV protective coating that will prevent fading of both cards and autographs. That being said, it's still not a good idea to store your cards in direct sunlight for extended periods of time and/or fluorescent lighting.

[drcy]

A good number of years ago I was told by someone at Becket that their big holders don't block UV light. But that was then.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by drcy

A good number of years ago I was told by someone at Becket that their big holders don't block UV light. But that was then.

UV glass for a photo is a little costly, no? Would a plastic sleeve possibly have same effect?